Tai Chi as therapy

Tai Chi may turn out to be the newest fitness craze in town considering the number of people taking to it. MyBangalore joins in.

Tai chi practioners. Photo: Manish Gunjan | mybangalore.com

Known to cure terminal diseases like cancer, the art of Tai Chi has originally been around for more than 5000 years. But it is only now that the city of Bangalore is waking up to its existence. At Mother Tree, a city based meditation and yoga centre, Cicily Thomas holds classes and workshops regularly. “A few years back people did not have the slightest idea about Tai Chi and what it really involves. In fact even in China, a lot of people thought it is essentially a dance form because it comprises a lot of fluid movements”, says Cicily.

What Cicily teaches is the Yang style of Tai Chi which is also regarded as the most popular Tai Chi style with maximum people learning the art adopting this form. “I got acquainted with Tai Chi in 1996 and immediately found it fascinating. As a kinesthetic person, I loved the movements that were so airy yet basically used for self defense. The first time I saw it was in France and the person performing it was bare bodied. I was amazed”, says Cicily. In 1998, Thomas started training under Grand Master Fu Sheng Yuan, fifth generation of the Yang family, the original promoters of the style. “People have been known to get cured through Tai Chi just like that, besides gaining through the self defense advantages of it”, adds Cicily.

Cicily Thomas’s Tai Chi classes are slowly picking up to involve more and more people across the city. The techniques used essentially border on relaxation. For an art that has been around for more than 5000 years, the popularity comes rather late. But then, as they say, it’s better late than never.

The following are a few advantages of Tai Chi- Harmonises the body and the mindEnables better functioning of the central nervous, cardio vascular, respiratory and metabolic systems.Improves concentration and stamina Even paraplegics can practice Tai Chi

Cicily Thomas holds workshops and classes in Indiranagar, Koramangla, Cooke Town, Vasanth Nagar as well as Cubbon Park. She charges Rs. 3000 for a five week long workshop.

Do visit our website indicated below. It gives details also of the venues. We are commencing classes in Cooke Town shortly. Hope to hear from you soon. Regards Cicily Thomas Mobile: 91-9449633267 / 7676269929 Website : www.taichibangalore.com or www.laforcevitale.com